A very good mail day!!

I got 3 boxes in the mail today. Or so I thought. One box was some craft stuff I ordered from Mary Maxim. 2 boxes were from my friends C and E – yes TWO boxes. One of them (box 1 of 2) was FULL of beef jerky, mostly the individual flat “sticks”. YUMMY!! The other box had some drink mixes, more beef jerky, some hand sanitizer (bottles and wipes), eyeglass cleaning wipes, scrunchies (can’t wait til I get home so I can wear them – lots of pretty colors, too!), and the most beautifulest pair of hand knit socks! E made them for me and they’re green and yellow and purple stripes. I should take a pic of them to show you. They’re comfy and warm – nice to wear around the hooch. Obviously I can’t wear them in uniform, but that’s ok. Thanks so much C & E!!

And then, when I was done oohing and aahing over my boxes, my friend E (aka SPC B) called me over to her room. Ok, so I went. And she says she got me a present and hands me a box that was addressed to me. Ok? This is kind of wierd. She says open it, so I do. And inside is a beautiful, soft, warm, cuddly green blanket with Prayer Blanket embroidered in yellow on the corner. I cried! She has one and I comment about it all the time. Her church back home in PA gets blankets and puts them on the altar and then they pray over them for a couple of weeks and send them to people that need them. The note inside the blanket reads “This prayer blanket is given to Lani Yearicks. Prayers were requested for you by EB and Family. This blanket has been prayed over by members of the First United Methodist Church of Emporium. May God comfort and surround you with his warmth and love.” And then I noticed the card inside the box – from E’s parents: “We would like to thank you for serving our country and thank you for being an excellent mentor as well as a good friend to our daughter E. We will continue to pray for you and your family.”

How awesome is that!!! E’s family is so sweet for doing this. And yes, Mom, I will be sending them a proper thank you. Thank you for raising me the “right” way!!

And finally, a small disclaimer about my previous Why is it post. I actually meant it in fun. Yes, life isn’t the greatest here, and yes, sometimes I do complain. But I’m enjoying life here for the most part (other than missing my guys). You just need to take things in stride and have a bit of leniency toward others when we’re living in this close of quarters. So I hope no one thinks I was completely serious about it (although, not having chocolate milk in the chow hall for a week is pretty serious – especially if you know me and milk!). Mom, Dad, and Eva, I do appreciate your comments though, and you’re right – everything happens for a reason!